Gate-latch.



E. l. TAYLOR.

GATE LATCH. APPLICATION mm sun 6. 1914.

Patented May 4, 1915.

lllt ineggeg THE NORRIS PETERS 60.. PHOTO-THO, WASHING'mN UNITED STATESPATEN T OFFICE.

EMMET J. TAYLOR, OF GUERNSEY, IOWA.

GATE-LATCH.

Application filed July 6, 1914.

To all whOm it may concern Be it known that I, EMMET J. TAYLOR, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Guernsey, in the county ofPoweshiek and State of Iowa, have invented a certaln new and usefulGate-Latch, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention 18 to provide a gate latch of simple, durableand inexpensive construction.

More particularly, it is my object to provide a gate latch which can beworked either with the foot or with the hand, so that for instance, ifthe hands are occupied, the gate can be readily and easily opened.

Still a further object is to provide such a latch, so constructed andarranged that when the gate is open, the latch stands in position toengage the gate when it is swung toward closed position and which willantomatically lock when the gate is moved to its closed position.

My invention consists in certain details, in the construction,combination and arragement of the various parts of the device, wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a portion of the gate and a gatelatch, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a vertical, sectional view,taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 shows a top or plan view of thegate latch and a portion of the gate, and Fig. 4 shows a horizontal,sectional view, taken on the line 1-4 of Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference numeral 10 toindicate generally the post at the free end of the swinging gate 11. Myimproved gate latch comprises a pair of brackets 12 secured to the post10 by means of bolts or the like extended through openings 13 in thebrackets. The brackets are provided with forwardly extending bearings14:, in which is rotatably mounted an upright rod 15. The brackets aremounted one above the other and spaced from each other, as shown inFig. 1. The brackets are provided with notches 16 adjacent to theopenings in the bearings 14, for the rod 15.

Fixed on the rod 15, just below the lower bracket 12, is a gate engagingdevice, comprising a body 17 fixed on the rod 15, having a pair ofoutwardly extending arms 18,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 4, 1915.

Serial No. 849,225.

which together have substantially the shape of a horizontal U. The freeends of the arms 18 are curved outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4. The arms18 are formed thicker at their inner sides A than at their outer sidesB. This makes it possible to secure greater strength for the purposewith a minimum of weight of material.

Fixed on the rod 15 above the lower bracket 12, and spaced therefrom, isa collar 19. Between the collar 19 and the bracket 12 is a coil spring20. The body 17 is provided with an upwardly extending lug 21, designedin one position of the gate engaging device to be received in the notch16 in the bracket, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Fixed on the rod 15, justbelow the upper bracket 12, is a collar 22, having a similar lug 21,adapted in one position of the rod 15 to enter the notch 16 in the upperbracket 12. Fixed on the rod 15, above the upper bracket 12, and spacedtherefrom, is a second gate engaging device, constructed like the onealready described, with the exception that it does not have the lug 21.Between the upper bracket 12 and the upper gate engaging device, is acoil spring 20, similar to that already described.

In the practical use of my improved gate latch, when the gate is closed,the effect of the springs is to hold the rod 15 at the upper limit ofits movement and to hold the lug 21 in the notches l6. When it isdesired to open the gate, the foot may be placed upon one of the arms 18of the lower gate engaging device, or if desired, the upper gateengaging device may be seized with the hand and the rod 15 moveddownwardly against the pressure of the spring. When the rod 15 is moveddownwardly a suificient distance to permit the lugs 21 to clear thebrackets, the gate may be pushed open, when the rod 15 will rotate inits bearings, carrying with it the gate engaging device to the position,for instance, shown by dotted lines in Fig. 3. The friction of the partscaused by the spring pressure is suflicient to hold the gate engagingdevices in their open position ready to receive and engage the end ofthe gate between the arms 18 when the gate has moved toward its closedposition.

In closing the gate, all that it is necessary to do is to swing the gatetoward the post 10. The gate will enter the engaging devices and when itmoves to fully closed position, the springs will raise the rod 15 andcause the lugs 21 to enter the notches 16. The gate is thusautomatically locked without further attention.

\Vhere my improved gate latch is used, it will readily be seen that thelatch may be operated either with the hand or with the foot. A personhaving both handsengaged with a load or the like may depress the lowergate engaging device with the foot and push the gate open with hisshoulder or the like, Without touching any of the parts with his hand.1;

The parts are of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction andmay be readily and easily applied to any post and used with any ordinaryswinging gate.

It will be understood that some changes may be made in the details ofthe construction of my device without departing from its essentialfeatures, and it is my intent to cover any such changes which may beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention;

1. In a device of the class described, a pair of brackets adapted to besecured to a post, said brackets being provided' with vertically alinedbearings, said brackets bein'g provided also with notches adjacent, tothe openings of said bearings, a rodro'tatably and slidably mounted insaid ,bearin s, -a gate engaging device, comprising, a ody fixed on saidrod, and arms extending away from said body in substantially U shapedform, a lug on said body shaped to ,engage the notch in one of saidbrackets, and yielding means for normally. drawing said ,rod to positionfor causing said,- gate engagihg means to engage one of said brackets. V

2. In a device of the class described, a pair of brackets adapted tobesecured to a post, said brackets being provided with vertically alinedbearings, said brackets being provided also with notches adjacent to theopenings of said bearings, a rod rotatably and slidably mounted in saidbearings, a gate engaging device, comprisin ,a body fixed on said rod,and arms exten ng. away from said body in, substantially ,U shaped form,a lug on said body shaped to engage the notch in one of said brackets,yielding means for normally drawing said ro to position for causing saidgate engaging means to engage one of said bracketa a second gateengagingmeans similar to thefirst excepting that it looks the lugonsaid body, acollar adjacent to the other of said brackets, provided with the lugadapted to enter the notch .in the second bracket, and yielding meansfor tending to hold said rod in position to cause said collar to engagesaid second bracket.

3. In -a device of the class described, a pair of brackets adapted to besecured to a post, said brackets being provided with vertically alinedbearings, said brackets being provided also with notches adjacent to theopenings of said bearings, a rod rotatably and slidably mounted in saidbearings, a gate engaging device, comprising a body fixed on said rod,and, arms extending away from said body in substantially Ushaped form, alug on said body shaped to engage the notch in one of said brackets,yielding means for normally drawing said rod to position for causingsaid gate engaging means to engage one of said brackets, a second gateengaging means similar to the first excepting that it lacks the lug onsaid bod ,a collar adjacent to the othe of said brac ets, providedwith alug adapted to enter the the secondbracket, andyielding means fortending to hold said rod in position to cause said collar toen'gage said'second bracket, said U shaped device having its arms thickened at theirinner faces. 7 p j V 4. In a device of the class described, a pairofbrackets adapted to be secured to a p s said bracke s. b ap o d witically alined bearings and with notchesadi e t o said-bearing a and idyt rotatably mounted in said bearings, gateeng ng devi e fi t n a ir fia j c n e one of said bearings, and provided witha lug adapted to bereceived in the notch in d hea i g wh th gate a n vi is in one positionofits movement, and yielding means for holding said gate engaging devicein engagement with said firstbearing, a collar fixedon Said rod adjacentto the sec ond bracket, provided with a lug adapted to enter the notchin said second bearing ,Wllen said rod is in one position of itsmovement, a second gate engaging device, comprising. a body fixedon saidrod, each of said gate engaging devices having arms in a substantial U,shape, and means for yieldin'gly holding said rodin position for holdingsaid collar in engagement with said second bracket.

EMM-ET J. TAYLOR.

ne es; 1

. IN ER.

Copies of this patent inay hlitaiiied f0 each, by addressing the(fii'iiiiiiissioii er Washington, D. C.

